BEST 9 CAT BREEDS IF YOU HAVE ALLERGIES

For people with allergies, symptoms such as hives, sneezing, coughing, and itchy eyes to mention a few, are among the signs that bring their attention to the fact that they are around allergens. It’s no news that cats are one major culprit for triggering reactions in people with allergies. Despite this belief, the love of the feline companions at home creates a dilemma on how best to own and live with cats without suffering an allergic reaction.

While some people have believed the solution to this is getting completely hypoallergenic cats, we have to debunk the myth right away. There are no cats that are a hundred percent hypoallergenic. Some breeds are just known to produce fewer allergens compared to others, which we shall be dropping shortly.

However, before we venture into the list of cats best suited for people with allergies, it is quite important to explain what exactly causes this allergy in cats. Most people believe it’s the hair of these small felines that initiates their allergic reactions. This is partly correct, although not completely true, a certain protein known as the “Fel d1” protein is known as the major cat allergen.

This protein is produced by all cats from their saliva and can spread to the hairs or skin flakes, (also called dander) when the cats groom themselves. These skin flakes as well as the hair, can go airborne or drop anywhere in the house triggering these allergic reactions in people. 

While it is quite understandable what causes allergic reactions to be triggered, it is also important to note that the production of this major cat allergen varies from breed as well as the sex of the cat. Female cats produce less of the allergen protein, compared to male cats, and neutered males cats produced lesser amounts compared to makes not neutered.

Since all cats have this protein, some breeds however do have less Fel d1 proteins compared to others, shed less hair, or don’t have the amount of hair to shed compared to others, making them more suited in homes that experience cat allergies. Take a ride with us as we discuss the hypoallergenic cat breed best suited for people with allergies.

1. Balinese Cats

The first cat on our list of best cats for people with allergies is the Balinese cat. Fondly referred to as the long-haired Siamese, this cat is native to the United States and it’s characterized by the presence of colored points, slender body frames, long legs, and finally silky medium to long hair coat.

This cat breed loves to be around family and is a good jumper. Balinese cats most times want to explore high points at home and are super intelligent cat breeds. Despite their long hairs, Balinese cats do not regularly shed their hairs and it seems this cat breed produces less of the Fel d1 as well as Fel d4 protein in their saliva which is responsible for triggering allergies.

The Balinese cats would do so well in homes that want to have feline companion pets that would not inflict regular allergic reactions.

2. Devon Rex Cats 

Devon rex cats are another cat breeds that are best for people with allergic reactions. This cat breed is native to England and is characterized by a slender body appearance, short hair that appears wavy, and a large ear that gives their face the rex characteristic looks. Because of their high intelligence levels, Devon rex cats are capable of learning difficult trucks compared to other cat breeds.

Asides from being people-friendly, Devon rex cats are quite active and full of energy. They can be seen jumping around places and taking up mischievous tasks. Because they are intelligent, they can be trained in walking on leashes as well as playing the fetch game. 

The Devon rex cat’s short hair coats don’t shed as much as that of other cats, reducing the risk of spreading hair or dander in homes, and do not require serious grooming. This cat breed has been regarded as hypoallergenic because they produce quite little of the Fel d1 protein, making them a good companion cat breed for people with mild allergic reactions.

3. Cornish Rex Cats 

Similar to the Devon rex cats and native to the United Kingdom, the Cornish rex cats are known to be lacking complete haircoats in cats and only have down hair or undercoat on them. This is another breed of cat that is best for homes with people having cat allergies. 

Just like the Devon rex, asides from having the undercoat, which is also wavy or curly, the Cornish rex cats have slender body appearances, big eyes, and large ears. They are slow playful like their rex counterparts and their energy levels happen to be on the high side. They would always require the attention of the owners and love to watch their family members from high points in homes such as refrigerators and doors. 

Cornish rex cats are social, with people-friendly temperaments, and are not likely to shed hairs regularly as a result of their short curly hair coats. However, this does not make them completely Hypoallergenic, because they also produce the Fel d1 protein from their saline or urine, responsible for causing allergies but in little amounts. 

This little production plus the low shedding of hair have made the Cornish rex cats one of the best cat breeds for people with allergies. It is important to spend time with this breed before acquiring them fully. This would help to know how much the Cornish rex triggers allergies.

4. Oriental Shorthair Cats

This is the fourth cat on our list of best cats for people with allergies. Native to the United States but with links to Thailand, the Oriental shorthair cats have been deceived to be similar to the Siamese cats but with a wider range of hair coats and colors. This cat breed is characterized by triangular heads, almond eyes, long, muscular slender bodies, and long ears.

It is believed this Breed is gotten from a cross of different cat breeds such as American shorthair, the Abyssinian cats, and of course the Siamese cats, which they are look alike. Oriental shorthair cats are social with families and intelligent. They are not only playful but an energetic cat breed that would demand your attention including your bed space.

Because of their short hair, Oriental shorthair cats do shed their hair about at home. Because of the low amount of allergen-causing protein in their saliva, they are good companions for owners who experience mild or meditated allergic reactions.

5. Russian Blue Cats

Sometimes referred to as just Russian blue or Archangel blues, this cat breed is another breed best for people who have cat allergies. Native to Russia, this breed is characterized by layers of short hair coats that shed less often, are dense, and stand out distinctively from the body. 

Asides from their greyish blue-black haircoat, the Russian blue cats have striking green eyes that would catch your attention when seen for the first time. This cat is not only people-friendly but curious and at the same time reserved. Russian blues are intelligent and would display this through the games they play, and how they react to human emotions.

They have shown to be tolerant of people who have moderate allergic reactions to cats. This is a result of the low shedding properties of their hair coat, coupled with little production of the Fel d1 proteins, responsible for triggering allergies. This has made the Russian blue cat one of the popular cat breeds amongst people who want Hypoallergenic cats as companion pets.

6. The Javanese Cats

This cat is never from java as seen in their name, but native to North America specifically Canada. They were created from a cross of a long-haired type of Siamese, a colored point cat, and a Balinese cat. Javanese cats fondly referred to as the colored point long hair are another cat breed that does excellently well with people with cat allergies. 

Asides from being a cat breed that catches the eyes and heart, at first sight, the Javanese cat is intelligent, playful, really agile and a serious mouse hunter. They always want to play a role at home and would be seen following their owners around, jumping, and making sure they initiate conversations at all times. Little wonder they are quite vocal just like the Siamese.

Because the Javanese cats do not have undercoats but only the top haircoat, they always shed less of their hair and need little grooming. This trait prevents them from spreading fewer allergens around and would certainly be fine for cat lovers with moderate allergic reactions to cats.

7. The Ocicat Cats

Despite having the looks of a wild cat, the Ocicat breed has no single wild trait in its DNA. With their names coined out from the ocelots due to their striking resemblance, the Ocicats have found themselves on, our list of best chairs suited for people with allergies. Native to the United States, the Ocicat cats were gotten from crossing the Siamese and the Abyssinian cats together.

This cat breed is characterized by its wedge-shaped head, almond green eyes a strong body frame to back up its awesomeness. The Ocicat breed has muscular legs and you would see them showing people-friendly temperaments to family members, and children, as well as being polite to guests at home.

Ocicats are quite intelligent like every other intelligent cat breed and are easily trained. This is seen in how well they listen to commands learn to walk on a leash as well as learn bro play a couple of cat games. Their social tendencies do not in any way affect how they hunt down prey when they catch a glimpse of them in your neighborhood. 

Often seen as seasonal shedders, the Ocicats do not often shed their hair regularly and don’t always require serious grooming regularly. A warm moist cloth is what is always needed most times and this alone makes them suitable as well as being one of the best cat breeds for cat lovers that have shown to have cat allergies.

8. Siberian Cats

This medium to large-sized cat breed is another cat that does well with people with cat allergies and has gained its way into our list of best cat breeds for Hypoallergenic People. Native to Siberia, a part of Russia, the Siberian cats have a characteristic strong and muscular body, with three-layered waterproof thick long hairs that help them withstand the cold and extreme weather conditions in their region.

Siberian cats often called Siberian forest cats are super playful with great social temperaments. Although playful, they are never noise makers at home unlike other breeds, and would be seen silently paying attention to their daily routines. Despite being skillful hunters, the Siberian cats are friendly towards children and Tolera t to other pets at home.

Although there are no completely Hypoallergenic cat breeds, Siberian cats have been known to shed hair less often as well as have reduced dander attributes. This is coupled with the low production of the Fel d1 allergen protein in Siberian cats, marking them one of the best cats suitable for people with allergies who would always want a cat for a pet partner at home.

9. Sphynx Cat

The list of the best cats for people with allergies would be incomplete without the Sphynx cats being mentioned. Native to North America, specifically Canada, the sphynx cats are famous for the lack of haircoat, resulting from a natural genetic mutation, that gives the skin a chamois leather appearance. Due to the hairlessness of this breed, they might be seen lurking around warm places at home and radiating warmth to the touch.

The lack of hair is not only the striking characteristic of this cat because Sphynx cats are fond of their extroverted personalities. Never shy, and you would see them wanting to know something about everything within their environment. Thus are intelligent, and agile with highly energetic displays. Sphynx would show affection to family members, and kids and would not be shy or rise to strangers at home.

The hairlessness of the sphynx has made this cat breed low on shedding hair, coupled with the oily skin, preventing dander from flying around the homes. This has given a few reasons why the sphynx cats wouldn’t trigger allergic reactions in their owners. However, this does not in any way make the sphynx a completely hypoallergenic cat breed, because the Fel D1 proteins are still produced and passed to the skin in minimal quantities.

People with mild to moderate allergic reactions can own the sphynx cat because they would not only prevent allergic atta as a result of their Hypoallergenic traits but would turn out to be best companions when called upon.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a lot of factors come into play when deciding to own a pet cat, especially for people who are prone to cat allergies. From wanting to know if they shed as much hair or dander, to understanding if they produce high levels of allergen protein via their saliva, which in turn sticks to their hair during self-grooming. However, the above-mentioned cats are compatible with people with mild to moderate allergies. 

Finally, it is important to first have some private time with these cat breeds, to know if they’d trigger allergies before bringing them full-time into your homes as pet companions.